Chamber head expects challenges over amendment The head of the state's largest business lobbying group says he expects court challenges aimed at clarifying questions surrounding a new constitutional amendment that imposes new ethics restrictions on lawmakers and loosens term limits. Speaking at a panel discussion on the new amendment Monday, Arkansas state Chamber of Commerce President Randy Zook said lobbyists are seeking clarification about rules regarding gifts and entertainment. The ne...

Arkansas AG: Woman pleads guilty to Medicaid fraud Arkansas' attorney general says a Crittenden County woman has pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says 34-year-old Elaina Brewer of Marion pleaded guilty Monday to a felony count of Medicaid fraud. A Pulaski County judge sentenced Brewer to two years of probation and ordered her to pay a $5,530 fine and $1,843 in restitution. She also must undergo random drug tests. Brewer was arrested in October 2013 after inves...

University of Arkansas to confer honorary degrees Gov. Mike Beebe, former Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke and University of Oxford Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton will receive honorary degrees from the University of Arkansas. Each will receive the honorary degrees and speak to graduating students as part of UA's fall commencement on Dec. 20. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Barnhill Arena. UA Chancellor G. David Gearhart said the three have "made extraordinary contributions" in their ...

Monticello church influences deadly curve upgrades Following a church's request that something be done about a deadly stretch of highway in southeastern Arkansas, state officials have announced a series of improvements on U.S. 278. The First United Methodist Church in Monticello sent a letter to Arkansas highway officials after the August death of 21-year-old Carly Avery on the S-shaped part of the highway known as "Dead Man's Curve." Authorities said she lost control of her vehicle in the cur...

Police: Little Rock man found dead at home Little Rock police say officers have found a man's body while responding to a house alarm. Police say they found his body in a Little Rock carport on Sunday afternoon. He had a gunshot wound to the head. The victim's identity hasn't been released. Police are investigating.

Arkansas lawmakers to discuss new ethics rules State lawmakers and others are scheduled to discuss a state constitutional amendment that prohibits most lobbyist gifts to elected officials and bars corporate campaign contributions and addresses term limits. Amendment 3 was approved by voters in November. State Sen. Jon Woods, Rep. Warwick Sabin, attorney Scott Trotter and Randy Zook of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce are set to discuss the issue Monday. The meeting will be at the Cli...

Police: Arkansas man arrested after bank break-in An Arkansas man has been arrested on a burglary charge after witnesses say he broke into a bank and took a stack of papers. The 26-year-old suspect was being held at the Washington County jail Monday morning and faces a commercial burglary charge. KHOG-TV reports (http://bit.ly/1wR11wY ) police arrested the man Sunday after he exited the Springdale bank through a broken window. He was treated at an area hospital after cutting his hand on the g...

3 Arkansas projects chosen for local foods program Local food programs in three Arkansas cities have been chosen to receive technical assistance in helping make the programs economically viable. The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub in North Little Rock, the Flippin School District and Debra Felske in Osceola have been chosen by the White House Rural Council for the Local Foods, Local Places initiative. The Arkansas programs are among 26 nationwide that will receive help in turning their food s...

Man settles in Australia after Paragould slaying On Wednesday, December 29, 1909, a violent winter storm was ripping across Paragould. After a day of hunting, brothers John Monroe and James Henry Trammell, both of Greenway in Clay County, ducked into the Elk Café on Paragould's North Pruett Street. Advertised as the, "most up-to-date restaurant in northeast Arkansas," the Elk Café served regular and short-order meals, cigars, liquor and even ice cream. When the brothers entered the café, Jam...

Jones strengthens the city's infrastructureSince being named the city of Russellville’s public works director and city engineer, Kurt Jones has been using his foundation of civil engineering to strengthen the infrastructure of his hometown. Jones graduated from Russellville High School and attended Arkansas Tech University before transferring to the University of Arkansas and earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. “I spent 15 years in Northwest Arkansas before moving back ...

RSD discusses new positionsThe Russellville School District policy committee discussed the possibility of creating positions during a called meeting Thursday. Alene Bynum, assistant superintendent of personnel and instruction, presented the new positions of Russellville High School (RHS) test and career coordinator and district reading dyslexia therapist. Bynum said the RHS test and career coordinator position was derived from the recently implemented board goals, which...

Alliance releases finance documentsThe Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) released financial statements for the past three years and documents showing progress since its inception during a news conference Monday at the Russellville Chamber of Commerce. The group called for the news conference following a budget hearing Friday in which Finance Director Jerry McKaughan temporarily zeroed out more than $1.6 million in the preliminary 2015 Economic Developmen...

Obituary: Janice ClintonCLARKSVILLE — Janice Lee Clinton, 76, of Hartman died Dec. 7, 2014, in Hartman. She was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Crosby, Minn., to the late Fred Abel and Lorena Bonneville Ericson. She was a homemaker and of the Assembly of God faith. She is survived by her son, Brian Clinton; daughters, Debbie Clinton and Cheryl McCarley; and four grandchildren. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by Hardwicke Funeral Home o...

Obituary: Donnie CruseDonnie R. Cruse, 61, of Russellville passed away Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born Sept. 5, 1953, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Estel Cruse and Tressie Birmingham Cruse. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Estel Wayne Cruse. Donnie served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Gail Wilkes Cruse; two sons, Jeff and Danny Cruse; one daughter, Jennifer Carter...

Obituary: Sue GiffordSue Carol Gifford, 80, of Rowlett, Texas, formerly of Dover, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, at UAMS Medical Center. She was born Nov. 18, 1934, in Childress, Texas, to Charles Arnold and Marjorie Christine Keeney Couch. While a member of Dover First Baptist Church, she directed the nursery. She was a proud homemaker who raised six beautiful children. She enjoyed sewing and cooking. Sue and her husband enjoyed traveling throughout North America f...

Obituary: Regina ViphongsayDANVILLE — Regina Irene Viphongsay, 46, of Havana passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at Baptist Hospital Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born at Bradford on March 16, 1968. She was a special need teacher tech at Kids Place in Ola. She was preceded in death by her father, Gary Greenfield; nephew, Opey Taylor; and grandson, Joeseph Quijada. Survivors include her husband, Tia Viphongsay; best friend, Roger Vaughn of Belleville; mother, Jaqu...

Obituary: Ruby PottsDANVILLE — Ruby May Potts, 78, of Ola passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at the Perry County Nursing Home. She was born March 19, 1936, in Delaware, Arkansas, to the late Robert Bennett and Mittie Carie Rowland. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bud Potts; brothers, Charles, George and Bobby Rowland; sisters, Nettie Rowland and Betty Avery. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Lloyd Bowman of Birta; brothers, J...

Obituary: Virgil ProctorVirgil Proctor, 81, of Russellville died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at the Russellville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Dec. 27, 1932, in Scottsville to Perry and Eda Allen Proctor. He was a member of Oakland Heights Assembly of God and had retired after many years of service from the maintenance department of the Arkansas State Highway Department. He was a member of the Pope County Marine Rescue Unit for 25 years and a member of the...

Obituary: Vivian HollandCLARKSVILLE — Mr. Vivian “Mouse” Holland, 79, of Clarksville died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. He was born Saturday, Feb. 16, 1935, to Delmar and Dolly (Haskins) Holland in Pettigrew. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Ruth Edmonds Holland and Emily Holland; one brother, L.D. Holland; and a granddaughter. Mr. Holland is survived by two sons, Johnny and Cathy Holland of Clarksville and Del and Rhonda Holland of Clarksville; four daug...

Obituary: Sharon ForemanCLARKSVILLE — Sharon Amber Foreman, 68, of Clarksville passed from this life Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, at her home. She was born May 13, 1946, in Tabor, Iowa, to Floyd and Wilma (Kempton) Williams. She is preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Amber and Leslie Kempton; and an uncle, Donald Kempton. Mrs. Foreman is survived by her husband of 47 years, Ronald Foreman; two daughters, Sherry Dixon of Clarksville and Angie Partin of Sprin...